Backgrounder

Backgrounder on the submission sent by the Canadian Human Rights Commission to the United Nations Human Rights Council, in preparation for the Universal Periodic Review of Canada in 2009

On March 15, 2006, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution establishing the Human Rights Council and introducing a mechanism for the Universal Periodic Review of the fulfilment by each member State of its human rights obligations. Canada is scheduled to undergo such a review in 2009.

In conducting this review, the Council will rely primarily on a report submitted by Canada. It has also invited other stakeholders, including National Human Rights Institutions, to submit their comments.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission is accredited by the United Nations as Canada’s National Human Rights Institution, and as such, it has sent the attached submission to the Human Rights Council, in preparation for Canada’s review.

The submission outlines Canada’s significant human rights achievements, while pointing out existing gaps, in a spirit of constructive engagement.

For more information on the Universal Periodic Review process by the United Nations Human Rights Council, please see:

http://www.upr-info.org/-UPR-Process-.html

(please note that the above site is not under the responsibility of the Commission or of the Government of Canada)